In a 12 hour period last week, Lake Orion’s Police Department experienced more crime in Children’s Park than they have in 12 years.
‘Both incidents were separate and in no way connected, but oddly they were extremely similar,? LO Police Chief Jerry Narsh said.
The first incident took place on a nice afternoon, June 2, shortly after 5 p.m. Officer Todd Stanfield was flagged down on South Broadway by two women coming out of the park.
They told him there was a naked man in the park fondling himself. Stanfield and the women went to the South Broadway bridge, looked down into the park and didn’t see anyone.
Officer Stanfield crossed to the dam side of the bridge and saw the unclothed man standing in Paint Creek. His clothes were on shore.
According to Narsh, by the time the 18 year old man dressed, the two women had left the area. And that’s too bad, Narsh said, without those witnesses the man won’t be charged with a more serious crime.
He has been charged with immoral conduct in public.
‘We’re not going to tolerate this type of behavior in the village, let alone Children’s Park,? Narsh said.
Narsh believes the man has some developmental issues. ‘He has no previous crime history. What motivated this, we’ll probably never know,? he added.
The suspect was released into the custody of his father.
The next call came in Tuesday morning from the Orion Township Fire Station which is right next to the park. The call requested police assistance for a disturbed person in the park.
Narsh responded to the call. He saw a man with long hair in a pony tail and with a beard take off towards Broadway. He caught up with the suspect on Front Street.
‘When I asked him what he was doing, he said he was killing Osama Bin Laden,? Narsh said.
The Osama Bin Laden he was talking about was a 54 year old resident who was in the park with his wife and two young grandchildren
According to Narsh, the victim was pushing one of the children on the swing when the suspect approached him from behind and put him in a choke hold.
Captain John Pender from the fire department heard screams and rushed to the aid of the victim. He found the victim unconscious and the suspect screaming, ‘I caught Bin Laden.?
Narsh believes Pender saved the victim’s life. ‘If there hadn’t been any intervention, the victim could have been killed,? he added.
The suspect, later identified at Chad Woodard, 28, of Oxford, was arraigned at Rochester’s District Court on June 3. He was charged with assault and battery and is being held on a $15,000 cash bond.
‘He has to wear a GPS tether if he makes bail,? Narsh said. ‘I requested he be banned from the community. That’s why he will have to wear it.
‘Woodard is a violent man. He’s been convicted for obstructing police, drunk driving, domestic violence, burglary, malicious damage to property.
‘It’s obvious he suffers from a mental illness. I get angry when people like Woodard openly admit they won’t take their medications.?
During the arraignment, Narsh said Woodard challenged the judge when it was suggested he take his medications for his own well being.
‘The problem we have is those who don’t take their medications and don’t have supervision become a threat to the community. Therefore Woodard is exactly where he needs to be — behind bars.?
Narsh said the village’s parks are safe and last week’s problems were due to very unusual behavior and the suspects were apprehended quickly.